Raised Blinds for Orchid Houses.—During the summer months we have found Raised Blinds very beneficial to the growth of Orchids, especially to those requiring cool-house culture. When the hot summer’s sun is shining upon the glass, it is very difficult, where Raised Blinds are not employed, to keep the temperature sufficiently low. The glass roof of the structure upon which the sun is shining becomes very hot, even when shaded with ordinary blinds; but if Raised Blinds are used a current of air is allowed to pass over the entire surface of the roof, and the glass is kept comparatively cool. The effect of this is to decrease very appreciably the internal temperature of the house; and the moisture, which would otherwise be dried up by the burning heat of the sun, produces a nice humid genial atmosphere in which Orchids delight. Having thus far referred to the advantages to be derived from the use of this method of shading, we may now explain briefly the mode of construction. Supposing that the house to be furnished with Raised Blinds is an ordinary span-roofed structure, it is necessary in the first place to provide a second ridge elevated about six inches above the top of the existing one. This should not consist of a solid plank, but of a strip of timber sufficiently strong to bear the weight and strain of the blinds and roller, and should be supported on blocks of wood placed at intervals in order to allow the current of air from below to find an outlet, which would not be the case if a solid ridge-board were adopted. Having arranged for the ridge, the next thing is to provide supports for the rollers; either wood or iron may be used for this purpose, but we have found iron to be the lightest looking and the most durable. Where the length of the rafters does not exceed say eight feet, half-inch rod iron will be found to be strong enough, and this should be cut into proper lengths, with the lower end turned up in a semi-circular form, so as to catch the roller when it descends, and prevent it from running off the supports. These supporting rods should be fixed to the bars or rafters of the house, about six inches above the woodwork, by being welded to vertical iron stays, which latter should be flattened out at the base, and provided with holes so that they can be screwed to the rafters or bars of the roof. In this way a strong support for the blinds to roll upon will be formed; the blinds themselves can be attached to the elevated ridge in the ordinary way, and the gearing usually employed for the purpose will be found to answer well for pulling them up or down. Many Orchid growers have already adopted these Raised Blinds with very beneficial results.—B. S. W.